Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Today on the fifth of May, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated by native Mexican (and American) people everywhere. This observance of the Cinco de Mayo victory is a special symbol for all Mexican people who celebrate their rights of freedom and liberty. In the spirit of this holiday I'm sharing 3 of my favorite Mexican recipes, ole!

I love mexican food! I could eat it every day at any meal. However, if you're eating your basic American/Mexican (you know, cheese quesadillas, enchiladas, taquitos, and chips) you are seriously de-railing your chance for a bikini body anytime soon. Fortunately, there is a way to get your Mexican food fix without having to fall off the Red Carpet Ready track.

Here are 3 of my favorite Mexican recipes - one for each meal of the day!The third recipe (and what I believe to be the best recipe) is brought to you by my good friend and Red Carpet Ready contributor, Gavan, The Healthy Irishman.

What To Do:Spray Pam in a non-stick pan and heat the pan on medium.Add the egg whites and cheese, and turn the heat to low.Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.Meanwhile, heat tortillas in the microwave for 30 seconds.Serve the cooked egg whites in the tortillas, top with salsa, and enjoy!!

What To Do:Pound the chicken breast to make grilling faster.Season your chicken with Mrs. Dash Chipotle spice, and grill on the BBQ or in a stove top grill pan, on medium/high until the meat is fully cooked through (about 8 minutes total).Allow the chicken to cool off before chopping.Assemble your salad - lettuce, tomato, and you dressing of choice.Place the chopped chicken on top of your salad and then add cheese, salsa, and avocado.Enjoy!!

For Dinner: Cinco de Mayo Red Snapper VeracruzAll recipes are made with the finest quality farmers’ market whole foods, natural and non-processed ingredients.www.TheHealthyIrishman.comFueling your body with healthy food. Fueling your mind with the wealth of health.

Veracruz is a central Mexican city on the Gulf of Mexico. Food is the passion of virtually everyone who lives there and seafood in particular, is eaten all through out the day. This sauce, although Mediterranean in style, is a classic dish from this area and goes down as a treat with all the locals. You'll love how easy this is and the taste--man, outrageous!

Directions:Preheat skillet on medium heat for 1 minute. Add olive oil. Saute onion for 1 minute, stirring. Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Add chopped tomatoes, olives, capers, oregano and bay leaves. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Simmer on low until sauce begins to reduce and thicken about 25 minutes approx. Taste and season.Preheat oven to 425F. Lay 4 tbsp of the cooked sauce in bottom of baking dish. Season each snapper fillet with S&P and place fish on top of sauce. Spoon remaining sauce over each fillet and bake uncovered for 15-18 minutes, until fish is firm to touch.Fresh, simple, healthy and muy delicioso! (says the Irishman)

Monday, May 4, 2009

One of the perks of being a celebrity trainer is that something you get to go to movie premiere. Last week and I had the good fortune of attending the premiere of "Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past", starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner. I loved this romantic comedy about a notorious photographer (McConaughey) with a bad boy reputation of loving beautiful women and dumping them when they fall in love with him. On the eve of his brothers wedding, the infamous bachelor is haunted by the ghosts of his past girlfriends and gets a huge wake up call.

Jennifer was radiant in the movie, and luminous on the Red Carpet - just 3 and a half months after giving birth. While celebrities have resources that might not be as readily available to most of us, there are some secrets that can have you on your way to looking Red Carpet Ready.

1. Start NowJennifer knew months ago when this premiere would be, so we circled it on the calendar and started exercising a few weeks after Serafina was born. In the weeks in between, other press opportunities came up. Fortunately, we had not delayed getting started. You may not have a movie premiere coming up, but with Summer fast approaching, you may be invited to the beach or a pool party. How would you feel if you were asked to put on a bikini, today? It's possible that you would skip the event or keep yourself covered up if you did attend. Then don't wait! Start a comprehensive fitness program such as Red Carpet Ready today, and notice results in less than 2 weeks.

2. Eat BetterYou cannot look and feel your best if you are eating junk. You will see the most dramatic weight loss if you eliminate processed foods and refined carbohydrates.- Focus on real food- Eat 5-6 times per day (3 meals, and 2-3 snacks)- Include a small portion of protein and a large portion of veggies at each serving- Get adequate fiber, this means 25-30 grams, spread throughout the day- Drink lots of water. About 80-100 ounces/day

3. Be AccountablePeople are more likely to stay committed to their diet and exercise program when they have someone to be accountable to (this is part of the reason personal trainers are so popular). Try getting a workout buddy, or creating your own blog, so that you can share your progress and your slip ups. Online communities and forums are also very popular for the very same reason. Many of the women in my Red Carpet Ready Club find the support they receive to be invaluable. Regardless which avenue you choose, you are more likely to stick with it if you have someone counting on you, and visa versa.